Condiment shaker



Dec. 3l, 1929. s, SKOTN'IK 1,741,742

CONDIMENT SHAKER Filed June 11, 1927 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES SAMUEL SKOTNIK, OF BRONX, NEW YORK CONDIMENT SHAKER Application filed June 11,

The main object of my invention is to provide a useful, attractive and sanitary sprinkler or distributor for salt, pepper or other condiments or spices.

Another object is to provide a shaker which will not get clogged up.

Another object is to provide a simple but reliable shaker which is normally closed when not in use and which will afford a spreading discharge.

Another object is to provide a construction of this character which can be readily cleared in case the condiment becomes eaked.

The invention relates primarily to the top or outlet member and consists primarily in the provision of a cap portion having a plurality of discharge orifices with a funnellike outlet normally closed by an ornamental ball or closure member and the outlet is so shaped and proportioned as to leave a space sufcient to permit the condiment to settle back through the orifices when the closure is dropped into pla-ce. The closure member is loosely connected to the cap by means of a stem which projects through the center of the funnel portion and may be provided with one or more lingers on the inner end to stir up the condiment within the cap and clear the orifices in case the condiment becomes caked.

Fig. 1 is a side view of one design of shaker embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the outlet or discharge end shown in section on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the device inverted for discharge.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective the parts of the cap and closure.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cap alone. The body or receptacle portion 6 may be of any suitable design or material, but is preferably provided with a neck 7 screw threaded to receive the cap 8. This cap ma be of any suitable material but is preferalily of metal and provided with an interior screw thread 9 for engagement with the threaded neck 7. This cap is provided with an interior Wall 10 which is inclined down- 50 wardly and inwardly from the rim 11, thus view of 1927. Serial No. 198,087.

forming a funnel-like space 12, vwith a passage 13 in the center and a series of orifies 14 and 15 arranged around the sides.

The 'ball or marble 1G is preferably formed of some ornamental material or substance, such as stone or colored glass or marble preferably polished and spherical and of such a size that it neatly fits within the mouth of the rim 11, but leaving a space beneath it and above the inclined wallr 10 where any of the condiment which has failed to be completely discharged in shaking can collect and move to and through the passages 111 and 15 without being caught and packed down by the closure member 16. The closure member has a stem 17, the outer end of which is suitably secured in the closure 16 and passes through the opening 13 in the center of the cap. This stem is preferably enough smaller than the passage 13 so that it will not bind when in use. The inner end of the stem is enlarged to prevent it from dropping out when in the position of Fig. 3. This enlargement may take the form of one or more fingers 1S adapted to loosen and break up the salt or other condiment by the movement of the member 16 and its stem 17.v These fingers may be curved or otherwise shaped to correspond with the inner wall of the member 10 so that byA rotating the finger or fingers any material adhering to the wall 10 may be scraped off by simply rotating the ball 16. l I

Ordinarily the ball rests in the cap as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so as to prevent any dirt or moisture from'getting into the receptacle and also so as to preserve any aroma which the condiment may have. Then the shaker is used, of course, it will be inverted as shown in Fig. 3 at which time the closure member will fall outwardly and the condiment will sift out through the passages 14 and 15 striking against the inner face of the ball member 16 and being thus spread in every direction. By having a plurality of openings 14 and 15 arranged in a plurality of circles, I insure the best possible delivery without depending upon the central passage 13 through which the stem 17 passes. When the receptacle is shaken the stem 17 and lingers 18 tend to break up any caking o1" the condiment which may have occurred.

When the holder is placed in its upright positionthe ball 16 settles hack into the funnel 12, thus completely closing the mouth of the funnel but without packing down any of the condiment which inay have fallen oil from the hottoin of the hall or which may have failed to leave the outer surface o the wall l0. I thus insure a tight, clean fitting' joint between the valve member or closure 1G and the edge of the funnel l2 ol the cap. Obviously, the forni of design and details of construction may he chano'ed without departing' from the spirit or scope oi the invention.

I claim:

l. A condiinent shaker coinprising` a receptacle having` a neck portion, a detachable cap on said neck consisting` of a cylindrical o body portion and a concave-convex inner wall provided with a central opening and a plurality of perlorations therearound, an inwardly extending' flange lornied on the upper edge of said body portion, a ball seated 25 on said flange, a stein secu-red to said ball and passing loosely through said central opening' to the interior of the receptacle, and concaveconveX lingers ixed to the inner end oi" said stein and being adapted to rotatably engage 3() the concavo surface of said inner wall when the hall is removed from its seat, said hall and inner concave-convex wall heine` so disposed relatively that a space is provided therebetween.

2. A condiinent shaker comprising a receptacle having a neck portion, a detachable cap on said neck consisting of a cylindrical body portion and an inner wall provided with a central opening and a plurality of perfora- 40 tions therearound, an inwardly extending flange formed on'the upper edge or said loody portion, a hall seated on said flange, a stein cured to said ball and passingy loosely through said central opening, to the interior of the re- 45 cep'tacle, and a device fixed to trie inner end o1" said stern and being' adapted to rotatably engage the surface of said inner wall when the hall is removed from its seat, said ball and inner wall being so disposed relatively ,gg that a space is provided therebetween. 

